c. 280 Influence of Manichæism 43

Condemnation of marriage 45

305 First injunction of celibacy, by the Council of Elvira 50

314 Disregarded elsewhere 51

III.—THE COUNCIL OF NICÆA.

Growing centralization of the church 52

325 The first general council 53

It prohibits the residence of suspected women 53

The story of Paphnutius 56

325-350 Married priests not as yet interfered with 58

IV.—LEGISLATION.

348-400 Enforcement of voluntary vows 59

Prohibition of female ministry 60

362 Reaction—the Council of Gangra 61

384 Celibacy adopted by the Latin church 64

385 Decretal of Siricius 65

V.—ENFORCEMENT OF CELIBACY.

Resistance to enforced asceticism 67

390 Jovinian 69

404 Vigilantius 70

390-419 The church of Africa yields 73

401 Compromise of the Cis-Alpine church 75

Popular assistance in enforcing celibacy 77

Effect of enforced celibacy on clerical morals 78

General demoralization of society 81

VI.—THE EASTERN CHURCH.

Divergence between the East and the West 83

381 Compulsory celibacy unknown in the East 84

400 Council of Constantinople—Antony of Ephesus—Synesius 85

430 First enforcement of celibacy in Thessaly 86

Celibacy not obligatory 86

528-548 Legislation of Justinian 86

680 The Quinisext in Trullo—Discipline unchanged 88

900 Final legislation of Leo the Philosopher 90

The Nestorians—clerical marriage permitted 91

The Abyssinian church 92

VII.—MONACHISM.

Buddhist model of monachism 94

Apostolic order of widows 96

Devotees in the primitive church—no vows irrevocable 97

250-285 Paul the Thebæan and St. Antony 97

350-400 Increase of monachism 98

Early systems—vows not irrevocable 101

Greater strictness required of female devotees 103